Otwa Autry

Brigadier General Otwa T. Autry was born in Gracemont, Oklahoma, in 1910 and graduated from Claremore High School, and from Phillips University, where he was a four-year letterman in football and captain of the 1932 team. His military career began as a private in the 179th Infantry regiment, and he was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Field Artillery. On moving to Enid, he jointed an Artillery battery headquartered at his own Alma Mater, Phillips University.

In World War II, he served as executive officer of the 189th Artillery Battalion with the 45th Infantry Division during its campaigns in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. During the Korean War he was commander in combat of the same 189th Artillery Battalion, and following this war he became the Division Artillery Commander and was promoted to Brigadier General. His outstanding and heroic service earned him the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, two bronze arrowheads for amphibious landings, and ten battle stars for campaigns in the two wars.

His civilian record of achievement and service is equally outstanding. He served 39 years in the Enid public school system, with service as a teacher, an athletic coach, junior and senior high school principals, then Superintendent of the Enid School system. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the Enid Board of Education, which later honored him in the naming of the Vocational and Technical School in his honor.